Library of Congress Veterans History Project

Interview conducted by Jeanne Czarnecki and produced by David Addison. Recorded at the Aptos Branch, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, November 28, 2016.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1932, Robert M. DeQuattro enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in September 1951. After basic training at Sampson AFB in New York, and the Engineering School for Map Compiling at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, he became a photogrammetrist. His first assignment was with the USAF 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Sembach, Germany in the French Zone. He prepared aerial photographs, maps and charts to support air and ground intelligence operations by American and Allied ground forces of NATO. His final unit assignment and major command was with the 10th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron. DeQuattro reached the rank of Staff Sergeant, decorated with an Amy Occupation Medal (Germany), and a National Defense Service Medal. Discharged from the Air Force in November 1956, he worked as an engineer in Boston and relocated to San Jose, California with General Electric (GE). He re-enlisted in the naval reserves in Monterey for a period of eight years and worked as technical illustrator in Scotts Valley for GE, Raytheon and CBS. DeQuattro lives in Aptos with his wife.